Racing on ESPN this weekAfter a two-week break, the NASCAR Nationwide Series returns to action this weekend and makes its season debut on ABC with a 300-lap race on the high banks of Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. ESPN’s live, flag-to-flag telecast of the event will air on ABC. ESPN2 is the home of the series all season, with select races airing on ESPN and ABC.

Allen Bestwick will host NASCAR Countdown from the ESPN pit studio, with analysis by 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty, a team owner in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

NASCAR Legends Race Again at Bristol Live on ESPN2

Some of the great NASCAR drivers of the past will slip behind the wheel again for a special 35-lap race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and ESPN2 will have a live telecast on Saturday, March 20, at 5:30 p.m.

Some of the drivers competing in the Saturday Night Showdown are David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Harry Gant, Jack Ingram, Jimmy Hensley, Dave Marcis and L.D. Ottinger. All will be in late model stock cars painted to resemble cars they drove during their careers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series.

NASCAR on ESPN analyst Randy LaJoie and ESPN the Magazine senior writer Ryan McGee will be joined by NASCAR driver Mike Wallace as panelists on NASCAR Now’s weekly roundtable discussion program on Monday, March 22, at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Allen Bestwick will host the edition of ESPN2’s daily NASCAR news and information program.

Nicole Briscoe hosts half-hour episodes of NASCAR Now airing Tuesday through Thursday of this week at 5 p.m. and Friday at 6 p.m. Briscoe also hosts the one-hour weekend edition that airs Sunday, March 21, at 9 a.m. with a preview of that day’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mike Massaro and Marty Smith will report from the speedway. .

Danica Patrick made history in 2008 when she became the first woman ever to win an IndyCar race. Patrick’s win in the Firestone Indy 300 at Japan’s Twin-Ring Motegi made news around the world.

ESPN Classic will give racing fans the chance to see Patrick’s victory again with an airing of the race, which was originally televised live by ESPN and featured lap-by-lap announcer Marty Reid capturing the significance of the moment with “Boys, move over – the lady is coming through! Danica Patrick wins at Twin-Ring Motegi!” The program airs Wednesday, March 17, at 9 p.m. ET.

Also airing on ESPN Classic this week are episodes of the network’s signature series SportsCentury featuring NASCAR stars Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. The Stewart program airs Tuesday, March 16, at 11 a.m., while the Earnhardt program airs Thursday, March 18, at 11 a.m.

NHRA Modified, Sportsman Action on ESPN2

Drag racing fans can watch two hours of action featuring the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the new Get Screened America Pro Mod Series on Saturday, March 21, beginning at 10 a.m. ET on ESPN2. The programs will include highlights of the Sportsman and Modified cars and drivers from the recent event at Gainesville, Fla.

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